The unfortunate and potentially threatening outcome of the diktat of the Naga Students’ Federation of imposing ban on the movement of all Meitei/Manipuri owned vehicles in Naga dominated areas have brought to the fore a glaring truth which cannot be ignored by any individual or group anymore. The use of the term ‘Manipuri’ by the student’s organisation evidently points to their utter lack of understanding the complex and interesting social make-up of Manipur. Rishang Keishing, one of the youngest MPs to be elected to India’s first Lok Sabha in 1952 and have had the distinction of being the oldest parliamentarian when he stepped down in 2014 at the age of 92 would not deny his identity as a Manipuri, nor would the present Deputy Chief Minister who is also in charge of Home, or any of the 60 members of the state assembly without any exception, but then it was not unexpected. Or, would it turn out to be a case of speaking too soon, given that the matter of being a Meetei/ Meitei/ Manipuri have had its share of public attention, debates and discussions, and could risk being misconstrued as an attempt to drive a wedge of social tension and mistrust amongst the diverse communities and groups inhabiting the state. To put all matters to rest, anyone born and having his ancestry in the state is accepted as a Manipuri, the present contention of establishing a base year for recognition of being an indigenous inhabitant notwithstanding. Another serious aspect that needs proper attention and timely redressal is the increasingly concerned habit of aggrieved and purportedly wronged parties of resorting on a rampage and socially disruptive activities bypassing the existing legal mechanisms. The practice has become so rampant that the legal system has become a sort of bystander and a last refuge when other options are exhausted when it should be the other way round. Perhaps that speaks of the level of confidence the public rests on the system- a natural reaction to the concept of the system shaped over the years. Despite the uncertainty and prospects of yet another social disruptions fuelled by the inaction of the state government to diffuse the issue, the fallout has also, albeit inadvertently, presented a scope for preventing the occurrence of such undesirable events in the future. It has once again shown what adequate and timely action or otherwise, for that matter by those at the helm of affairs can make or mar the maintenance of a fragile social setup. The best solution should be to get to the root of the matter and come out with the truth, for only the truth will set us free of the tensions, apprehensions and frustrations.
